This is also known as a technique called parging. Typically, parging is done to repair cracked or damaged masonry and may not be applied so artfully. Here, the type of grout or mortar used gives a chalky appearance of an old-world wall.

This isn’t stone of course, but a well-done job of painted brick with just the right amount of antiquing, if so desired. Jill Flory, the author used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint but since writing this post is now waxing poetic about this chalk paint – Paint Couture

please feel free to share! *Love your comments! Please note however, that the blog is meant as general advice. In addition, it is not possible to give out specific answers to your interior design and/or paint questions. Thank you for your understanding.

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Laurel, most of the finished that you liked in the photos can easily be achieved with ROMABIO’s BioCalce Classico (washoff), BioCalce A (solid)
, or BioCalce S (semitransparent). These products are also used on exterior brick or stone as well and very easy to manipulate since they are specially formulated to create these effects. Visit romabio.com/masonry. Great post!!!!ReplyCancel

Laurel, i don’t always get to them in a timely fashion but i thoroughly enjoy your blog posts. I’m a member of the IDC on FB and enjoy reading your input there too. Keep up the great work!
Please add me to your pinterest board. thanks and happy holidays!https://www.pinterest.com/gaggion/ReplyCancel

Thank you so much Jennifer! And I added you to the board. Happy Holidays!ReplyCancel

Patti Phillippe -December 18, 2016 - 12:25 PM

Merry Christmas Laurel!

Your post on fireplaces couldn’t be more timely for me. I don’t have an ugly fireplace, but it’s about to look awesome when I paint it a chalky white as shown in one of your pictures. Woman you rock! Reading your blog is truly a pleasure and I learn so much!
Here’s my Pinterest address. Thank you!

Wow, there are a couple fireplaces you have found that make me feel a tad bit better about mine. That’s quite a feat, Laurel.

And, you have a fireplace like mine in an example. Greige Design. Mine goes one step further with pinky beige tiles though. My husband has declared that he is ripping it out. Not sure which century that will be so I may need to paint it for now ,hah.

Seems fashion and interior design have something in common at times. When that desire to be different, create something unique goes off the rails. Although I’m sure, like fashion, if you are famous enough you’ll get away with some of it.

I’m struggling to understand what takes a room with a stone fireplace to an o.k. place design wise. In the more obvious first picture I see a lot of wood, I get that.
But the example further down (Lisa Sherry) I’m seeing a rustic stump of wood as a table and the twig ladder, but everything else I have seen in rooms considered classic design that would not have a stone fireplace. Is that the trick, strategically incorporate a couple rustic elements to tie back to the stone?But not too rustic, as I see the stump has a shiny lacquer on it? I’m not challenging your opinion, I like the room too, just truly trying to figure it out.ReplyCancel

Well, re: the Lisa Sherry room. The stone would not have been my first choice or even the 10th, but it is okay. And I imagine that the stylist came in there and added a bunch of stuff. Who knows? I think the balance of pale colors, whites and touches of black also make a big difference in the over-all look and feel of the room.ReplyCancel

Hi Laurel…Great post! I can’t tell you how many times I have counseled homeowners to change or paint their out of place fireplaces. Two months ago I staged a vacant renovated home and while the house was updated top to bottom, the investor left the ugly brick fireplace – and made it worse by having his painter paint it a bright red – and then they added a bluestone top and sides. Ridiculous! I showed them pics of white painted brick fireplaces and some stacked stone ones – and finally he relented and changed the ugliness to a stacked stone one. The house sold quickly!!

OMG! Cracking up at the first half of your post. Makes me happy I have the brick fireplace that I have lol. Mine is not so bad after all 🙂 I still want to re-do it. How do you feel about limestone plank fireplaces such as this one here?

Was it you or was it someone else that showed me the same pic last week.

I’m having some issues with the room as a whole. Like those weird clerestory dormer windows. I’ve come to realize that while I love tall ceilings, two story rooms most of time don’t do it for me. Yes, there are some stunning ones, but for me, that’s tall (but normal) windows and mouldings, etc.

I don’t think the limestone is bad, but it’s not my taste is all.ReplyCancel

Jenny -December 14, 2016 - 11:52 PM

Yes..I don’t get this preoccupation with stone-unless it belongs. Our GC was so surprised:
-you don’t want to do a stacking stone?!

hmm. no. why would I? how does it relate to the house in So Cal?
and judging by his genuine surprise-it’s probably very popular here.
So Cal is big of course..drive for couple hours, there’s Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear for you, and mountains and forests with very clever bears around, and then this stone will look like it makes sense.

I think that painting stone should be done amazingly well for it to fly. The idea to blend it with the walls is truly great.

Together with this, I was advised against painting tiles..it doesn’t hold well, and here I’m inclined to believe my GC. As a temporary solution-great maybe.

Of all the house, we didn’t redo just the kids/guest bath-tiles are..ok not to be rude..not to my liking.
Instead, I accessorized the heck of it lol. We just moved in, and I’m so proud..actually was proud just two days ago, but now it seems that every shower taking by my kids brings a flood with it lol. I’ve no idea why. The walls are dry, the vanity(new) doesn’t leak.my feeling of pride kinda starts dissipating. Turning into a feeling “We should have bitten the bullet and redo it too”…)))ReplyCancel

Although I’ve never done it, I’ve had clients who have painted tile and if it’s done correctly, holds up amazingly well. There’s an epoxy paint that clings very nicely. But that too is an art and I would still go over the grout because painted grout is weird–especially if shiny.

There are videos on youtube, if you’re interested in investigating it.ReplyCancel

Phyllis E -December 14, 2016 - 10:28 PM

Thanks, Laurel, for these great posts on dealing with plain jane or ugly brick and stone fireplaces, since so many of us have them.

I’ve been trying to figure out why some brick and stone fireplaces or walls appeal more than others. Do you think that, in addition to the color of the brick or stone itself, that the color of the mortar and how much contrast there is between them, has a lot to do with the overall appeal, or lack there of, of the masonry? Just wondering.
As far as stone fireplaces goes, I think it must takes a talented mason with am artist’s eye to create a gorgeous stone fireplace (along with nice looking stone, of course.) When I lived in California, the available local stone was not very attractive.

By the way, I love the transformation of that first red-painted fireplace! Sarah did an amazing job! I was going to comment on her post, though it is an older one, and tell her so, but it wouldn’t let me without using some other account like Google. SO Sarah, if you are reading this–I love your transformation. It probably looks better than the stones did originally!

Also, I LOVE the painted, antiqued brick fireplace from the Sew a Fine Seam blog.It has to be one of the best examples I’ve seen and one of the first that makes me want to paint my brick fireplace. I would love to see how she did that, but when I try to go to her site, I keep getting a “Dangerous Web Site Blocked” message from Norton. Perhaps a computer virus has attacked her site? Has anyone else experienced this problem? If her web traffic has dropped recently, that might be why.

That is an interesting point about the mortar. I prefer a mortar that blends with the stone and yes, it is a big problem when there’s a lot of contrast, I think.

Oh Blogger blogs. Some do have a place to put in name/URL, and some don’t. The wordpress log-in thingy doesn’t work and neither does “open ID”, so that leaves google and if one doesn’t have a google account, you can’t comment.

I am not having a problem with Sew A Fine Seam, however. But maybe it’s your browser? Don’t know. Just a wild guess. If you have another browser option, perhaps try that. I’m using firefox.ReplyCancel

Lisa D. -December 14, 2016 - 10:18 PM

Well, the second photograph looks like it belongs in the Flintstone’s living room, and the sixth one, OMG, I’m at a loss for words. Love the way Steve and Brooke Giannetti have their fireplace open on opposite sides. They have a beautiful home. This post is just full of wonderful and useful information, Laurel. Thanks so much.ReplyCancel

I’m so sorry, I found you and am following you, but it won’t let me add you.ReplyCancel

Cynthia Lambert -December 14, 2016 - 8:36 PM

Hah! Laurel, you made me laugh with the Mt. St. Helens comment. Very appropriate. What were they thinking? Those were some crazy fireplaces. Personally, I never saw a stone fireplace I could really cotton to, but that’s just my opinion. They all look like the contractor forgot to finish them out. I’m sure there must be one someplace that looks appropriate, but give me a great carved or paneled mantle any old day to make a room beautiful. I love fireplaces, and in a perfect world I would have one in every room, including the bathroom.ReplyCancel

Thank you, Laurel, for the pictures and the “okay” to paint tile! I am getting ready to paint the green tile surround on a fireplace in my home built in the 1900’s, because I don’t like it! Others seem to think it’s sacrilege. I also painted all the orange, natural woodwork. More desecration.
And those fireplaces……..!!! The second one (after Amy’s) looks like a foot with six toes, and the one you referred to as Mount St. Helens looks like a Brontosaurus stepped through the ceiling. I love your blog, by the way.ReplyCancel